MINERAL COUNTY – During a brief update to Mineral County Commissioners on Dec. 11, Mineral County Emergency Manager Clint Leggett stated that he recently purchased avalanche preparedness packs for the Mineral County Search and Rescue team. Leggett stated that he got the packs through avalanche safety expert Matt Entz, owner of Mountain Skillz in South Fork.

Leggett continued his update explaining that he was also going to schedule some training with Entz in coming weeks to ensure his team was prepared in case of an emergency.

“I am hoping to get into the AV1 and AV2 classes. We want to be as prepared as possible in case of an emergency that involves avalanche danger,” he said.

Mountain Skillz is an outdoor recreation guide and training operation in South Fork. The company works with outdoor recreation enthusiasts, specifically snowmobilers, during the winter to help them learn how to enjoy winter recreation and to train them in avalanche protocol and safety devices.

One of the main focuses Entz has during his avalanche training courses is to make sure students understand the importance of safety equipment. Anyone out riding a snowmobile, cross country skiing, snowshoeing or enjoying any activity in high snow areas during the winter should wear a backpack with a shovel, an avalanche probe, and an avalanche beacon.

Mountain Skillz does private avalanche training workshops throughout the winter every year and during the summer continues his work with OHVs and trail stewardship in and around South Fork and Creede. As one of the area’s leading certified trainers, Entz also encourages outdoor recreationalists to utilize some of the free resources that are available.

Entz is part of the American Institute of Education and Training who offer a wide range of training and educational opportunities including avalanche safety. The institute and any certified trainer use standardized curriculum and then use the information to create their own unique and valuable training courses.

According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), the most recent update on avalanche danger in the area is low but not unseen, “The current storm track stays mainly to the north of the Central and Southern Mountains. Dry December continues with a weakening and variable snowpack.

“In the Southern Mountains, the avalanche danger is low (1 of 5). However, low (1 of 5) danger does not mean no danger. This fact is highlighted by the small Wind Slab avalanche problem. The 4th rider in the group triggered this small Wind Slab avalanche on a 35-degree west-facing slope below treeline north of Silverton. They triggered the slide as they made a turn adjacent to a convex roll on a cross-loaded terrain feature. To understand what you will be facing and how to manage it, check the forecast at Colorado.gov/avalanche for the full details.”

Leggett finished his update stating that the SAR OHV would also be fitted with snow tracks to be used year-round for missions. Mineral County Administrator Janelle Kukuk mentioned that there was also training available to learn how to use avalanche beacons in a controlled environment to which Leggett responded that he would be in contact with her to schedule additional training.